AFTER two tough grand final losses, Eastern Ranges climbed the Coates Talent League Girls’ Mount Everest by taking home the 2025 premiership. With the deepest squad in the competition and 17 of the 23 players on grand final day at least trialling for Vic Metro, the Ranges finally went one better after a sensational season.

SEASON 2025

SNAPSHOT

Played: 14
Won: 11
Lost: 3

BEST PERFORMANCE

Grand Final: def. Dandenong Stingrays by 38 points

It was only on the weekend, but created memories that will last a lifetime. The Ranges put the game to bed early in the third term after being in control throughout the match. They lead by 53 points at one stage until Dandenong booted three of the last four goals. Tayla McMillan won best on ground with 29 disposals and 11 inside 50s, while the usual suspects of Emily Rankin, Brylee Anderson and Jordyn Allen were all huge in the victory.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

NATIONAL DRAFT COMBINE

Jordyn Allen (Heathmont)
Defender/Midfielder | 165cm | 12/11/2007

Stats [13 games]: 18.5 disposals, 2.2 marks, 3.4 tackles, 1.7 clearances, 4.8 inside 50s, 3.0 rebound 50s

Allen is the class factor who provides hard running between the arcs and is always there for the handball receive to take off and burst forward. She spent more time in the midfield later in the season, and with plenty of contested ball-winners, Allen was able to be that second or third-possession player who pinpoints passes inside 50. A really consistent year across all forms for the National Academy member.

Josephine Bamford (Ferntree Gully Eagles)
Ruck | 182cm | 03/06/2007

Stats [13 games]: 15.2 disposals, 2.2 marks, 23.0 hitouts, 4.5 tackles, 2.2 clearances, 3.5 inside 50s, 10 goals

Has just about become a genuine ruck/forward, with her forward craft coming along in leaps and bounds. In addition to that, her aerial presence has also improved as shown from her six marks in the grand final on the weekend. What Bamford offers is her ability to work contest to contest and get involved around the ground, finding plenty of the ball and using her athletic traits and defensive pressure to impact outside the ruck contest.

Asher Fearn-Wannan (Blackburn)
Wing | 177cm | 14/12/2007

Stats [14 games]: 12.9 disposals, 1.9 marks, 3.8 hitouts, 2.2 tackles, 4.1 inside 50s, 2 goals

Fearn-Wannan has played in a variety of roles over the journey, but has seemingly settled on that wing position as her number one spot. An enormous vertical jump, Fearn-Wannan chopped out in the ruck too, but did her best work when having space to run and carry down the ground. Got her chance to impress for Vic Metro as well, and has that speed-endurance mix that always catches the eye.

Tayla McMillan (Wantirna South)
Midfielder | 161cm | 25/05/2007

Stats [11 games]: 22.2 disposals, 1.6 marks, 5.5 tackles, 4.9 clearances, 5.2 inside 50s, 1 goal

Another massive year from the talented onballer who did not put a foot wrong at any level. Her balance between her offensive and defensive capabilities is superb, and she can extract the ball from a contest in all manner of ways. McMillan starred at the national championships and then on the big stage of the grand final, winning best afield honours and leading the Ranges to a maiden flag as skipper. A star in the making.

STATE DRAFT COMBINE

Isabelle Creaton (Blackburn)
Defender | 164cm | 29/01/2007

Stats [15 games]: 11.5 disposals, 0.9 marks, 3.0 tackles, 1.2 inside 50s, 1.1 rebound 50s, 2 goals

Played the style that Eastern love which involves running from the back half and putting speed on the ball early. Creaton was regularly utilised as a player to exit the defensive 50 or push up the ground and add an extra number just behind the ball. She might not have taken a stack of marks, but her groundlevel work was great and she is ultra-competitive with nice athletic traits.

Bree Horne (Lysterfield)
Tall Defender | 178cm | 31/05/2007

Stats [11 games]: 7.6 disposals, 0.6 marks, 2.5 tackles, 1.4 rebound 50s

Returned for the grand final after missing the preliminary final due to illness, with Horne becoming a staple in Eastern Ranges’ defence. She slotted into Vic Metro’s back half as well, and like Creaton is not a known aerialist, but is ultra-competitive and great speed and vertical jump for a 178cm talent. Was highly rated internally in preseason and certainly held her own across 2025.

Ashleigh Thatcher (Wantirna South)
Forward/Midfielder | 164cm | 03/09/2007

Stats [15 games]: 12.9 disposals, 1.9 marks, 3.4 tackles, 1.4 clearances, 2.7 inside 50s, 3 goals

The wildcard in the pack who has shot out of nowhere coming into the Eastern Ranges’ squad as a top-ager. Thatcher stepped up in the absence of key teammates at times, earning more midfield minutes. Though usually only in spurts when the Ranges were at full-strength, she linked up as a high half-forward and showed she could use either side of her body and bring the defensive pressure as well.

Zoe Vozzo (Wantirna South)
Forward/Wing | 165cm | 06/02/2007

Stats [16 games]: 9.4 disposals, 1.5 marks, 3.9 tackles, 1.2 inside 50s, 16 goals

After being a lower production wing, Vozzo pretty early switched up forward and then after starring for Vic Metro in the role, just stayed there for Eastern. She has the defensive pressure to go with speed and smarts close to goal, best known at the national championships for her behind-the-head kick in the goalsquare while under pressure. Averaged a goal a game and even with minimal opportunities, made them count.

Zoe Wilkinson (South Belgrave)
Forward/Midfielder | 170cm | 17/05/2007

Stats [15 games]: 12.4 disposals, 1.9 marks, 3.7 tackles, 2.0 clearances, 1.8 inside 50s, 9 goals

Wilkinson missed a lot of footy last season but made up for it with a full year in 2025, developing into an even split of forward/midfielder. Unlike her twin sister Mathilde who is a pure forward, Wilkinson can compete around the stoppages and thrives on the contested ball. She still kicked nine majors for the Ranges this season, and can take a strong mark or apply pressure at ground level to force turnovers.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Eastern Ranges’ deep crop of talent does not end this year, with the potential Vic Metro midfield running around for the club next year. Headlined by Under 16s MVP Brylee Anderson, the likes of Emily Rankin and Scout Semple have rotated forward throughout the year, but are tipped to be part of the starting on-ball group in 2026.

Anderson racks up the ball like few others and can play on any line, with Rankin doing her best work in close, and Semple able to find space to hit the scoreboard or set up her teammates in a similar fashion. After the top three, the Ranges still have the likes of winger Bridie Neale and utility Lara Williams who rotated from forward to defence, but can play wing too.

There were too many bottom-agers to name, but those who played the most games outside those already mentioned included Ellie Busch and Maeve Gill (both 16), while Adelaide Caldicott and Amber McDermott (nine) both played in the grand final side too.

Double bottom-ager Perri Goulding is one of four really top-end talents coming through the Ranges program as well, showing that the core will remain strong for the foreseeable future. Ruck April Dye and the likes of Kyra Simmons and Alira Barnard-Rossely who can play both midfield and forward are other exciting prospects.